Previously on Swordthunder...
“Overseer, you got some dwarfs to see ya!”
“Thanks, lad. Show them in!”
Rulmeng has showed in a tall, stocky dwarf and a short, anemic one.
“Hello, I’m Jadeson and this is Granite. We’re from The Mountainhome Paranormal Investigations. We were told you wanted to see us?”
“Hello, yes, I did. You see I am attempting to memorialize the dead and grant them eternal rest. Problem is we don’t know who all the spirits are. We can’t memorialize without a name.”
Granite smiled and gesticulated as he spoke. “We are well-equpped to speak with the spirits. By using the LDT...”
“The what?”
Jadeson chuckled sheepishly. “The ‘Lava Disturbance Translator,’ it reads the ripples on the lava in the area of a haunting and translates the frequency into something resembling dwarven speech. It is not 100% accurate, but we’ve given many families closure through the use of the LDT.”
“Ah, I see. Well, however you do it, I’d like a census of the restless spirits around here so we can finally put them to rest.”
Granite was slightly disgruntled to be interrupted. “We can certainly start right away. We’ll get you a list in a few days.”
“Wonderful! I shall see you both in a few days!”
Few days later. “Overseer, I bring bad news.”
“What is it, commander?”
“Well, those two dwarfs you hired?”
“You mean Jadeson and Granite, the fellows from the MPI? What about them?”
“They were found dead in the lower levels, sir.”
“What?! Did the Forgotten Beast get to them?”
“No, sir. It seems they were bludgeoned, “ he checked his report before continuing, “with Jadeson’s own right leg.”
I sat down and put my face in my hands, “ ‘Mok preserve me! Am I going to have to guess from the list of the deceased?”
“Actually, sir, we did find a list beside their bodies.” He handed me a scroll. I opened it and saw a long list of restless spirits. I handed it back to him.
“Get this to the craftsman, and tell him to get started yesterday! We have no more time to waste!”
“Yes, sir. Right away, sir.”
The summer is passing by without event. The goblins were either slaughtered by our roaming animals or by our traps. A few have been caged, but I will leave them to starve. I have no interest in prisoners.
So many of the spirits have been laid to rest. Seems so quiet and peaceful. Only a handful remains.
“Hey, Bigguy. It’s nice and quiet, ain’t it?”
I sighed, “hello, Erica. Yes, I’ve had some decent sleep in the last week.”
“Bad news, bubba.”
“What?”
“Got another one possessed.”
“Oh, no,” I do not need this. I can only hope he/she can get what they need.
It’s early Galena, our planter has claimed a Leatherworks. So far so good, let’s see if we have the goods he needs.
“The human caravan has arrived, Overseer”
“Thank you, captain. Any sign of those despicable gobins?”
“Not as of yet, sir”
“Well, they can’t be too far behind. Keep your eyes peeled and stay alert.”
“Yes, sir.” She turned to leave.